Last month I came to a realization that I do not have the musical prowess that I like to think I have. My knowledge of bands, songs, and sounds is much more limited than I would like. So I decided to embark on a musical journey to discover the sounds that I have been missing and challenge myself to do so. The challenge: Listen to 365 albums in the span of 1 year. The rules are simple, listen to albums, and repeat listens don’t count. However, I can listen to albums I’ve listened to before this challenge started. End date is 4/1/18. The goal is to find some great tunes from any genre. I take, and encourage, recommendations. What are your favorite must-listen albums?
130/365 Cardi B: Invasion of Privacy So like, I've been hearing about Cardi B for a while. Terri has been listening to her a lot as well. I thought this album had been out for a while, but it just came out a few days back. So I guess I'm at the cusp of hip shit on accident! Oh also, this album is damn good. Check it out
So like...I missed my April 1st end date (surprise!). I had a ton of computer, cell phone, and work-ish problems over the past year. I kept listening, but i didn't really update this thinger here. I don't know my final count yet, but it's gotta be close to the goal. I'll try and update this with as much as I can soon.
129/365 Jason Isbell: Southeastern I've heard Jason Isbell referred to as, "our generation's best singer songwriter." If he's not then he has stiff competition. I was just sitting at work, trying to enjoy my day, then the song "Elephant" came on and *BAM* Right in the gut. Some other real winners in this album too.
128/365 Jidenna: The Chief 🔥🔥🔥 This album had SO much good shit going on. While it's obviously a modern hip hop album, there were layers of jazz, doowop, Motown, African drumming, reggae, Spanish guitar, reggaeton, and I'm sure much more. All of that without sounding or feeling over ambitious or over reaching. It flowed really, really well. It felt like an homage or love song to music in general without losing his own style. Plus he makes me want to dress better because, if you haven't seen him, his style of dress is razor sharp. "Don't wanna spend my best dressed day in a casket." So good.
127/365 The Fabulous Thunderbirds: Girls Go Wild Its Texas independence day, so why not listen to some Texas blues? Jimmy Vaughn (Stevie Ray's older brother) and the boys shredding it up, and cooling it down. Good stuff.
125/365 Devin Townsend Project: Z2 What would it sound like if Wayne Static and whatshername from Evanescence made a prog metal band? Well look no further! I'm not big into prog rock/metal, but I didn't hate this. 😉
123/365 Nektar: Remember the Future This one came hand selected by Dragstrip Dave (of Kansas City racetrack announcer fame. Dave can currently been seen on his back porch, yelling at "the goddamn raccoons that keep shitting on my roof!") I had never heard of this band, and I was fully prepared to bust Dave's balls for his old man hippy music. But as it turns out, it was actually really good. Still '70s rock as hell, but really good. When he's right, he's right.
122/365 Heather Little: Wings Like These Another artist from northeast Texas. This one was definitely more country, but she had a good voice and nice lyrics.
121/365 Trevor Moore: Drunk Texts to Myself He's a silly bastard making silly bastard music. Love it. The "whitest kids u know" are great. So if you like them, you'll like this.
119/365 Townes van Zandt: Townes van Zandt I'm nor sure what the line between country and folk is, but I think this is more on the folk side. Good stuff though.
117/365 Kacey Musgraves: Same Trailer Different Park I dont have much exposure to country music (even though I've lived in Texas for 20 years of my life). I actually really looked this album. She has a sweet voice, the lyrics seem honest enough, though a bit cliche at times (Not hating/its cool). Also, while it's obviously a country album it's not too country or twangy. It's just good.
116/365 Ryan Adams: 1989 A track-for-track cover album of Taylor Swift's album of the same title. So take that, and add Ryan Adams. Sounds exactly like you think it would. I don't think I'm okay.
115/365 Taylor Swift: 1989 We enter through a door into a dimly lit room where the Baron von Lunkyheim sits in his armchair, pensive, staring out of the window into the inky blackness faintly illuminated by a single street lamp. He reaches for a cigarette in the case on the table beside him, puts it up to his mouth, and lights it. The gentle flicker and warmth of the lighter would have been welcomed another time, but it's too late. He takes a long, slow drag of the cigarette, then exhales the smoke quickly as if releasing a heavy sigh. Through the smoke-filled haze we hear him speak in a gravelly whisper, "... what have I done?" *fade to black*